Here is a list
of the Conservative government's statements, setting out its 13
commitments to 1.5 million Ontarians with disabilities and their families
and
friends, made in the fall of 2001. The government made these 13 commitments
during the debates over Bill 125, the proposed Ontarians with Disabilities
Act.

Many of these
commitments were made by the government's Citizenship Minister,
the Honourable Cam Jackson, in written documents and public statements.
He is
here referred to as "the Minister." He had lead responsibility
during this
process to speak for the Ontario government in this area.

Some of these
commitments were made in public statements by other Conservative
MPPs. In this process, the speeches of Conservative MPPs in support
of a bill
are usually written and approved by the Minister's staff or other
officials for
the government.

Where these statements
were made in the Ontario Legislature, the references
below are to Hansard (the Legislature's official record), the date
of the
statement, and where possible, the stage in the bill's proceeding
(i.e. debates
over first, second or third reading, or during Question Period). Now
that Bill
125 has been passed, it is known as the Ontarians with Disabilities
Act 2001 or
"ODA 2001."

The government
made some of these commitments in widely-publicized official
policy documents, released to the public during this process. One
is the
Conservative government's "Vision Statement" for Ontarians
with disabilities,
released on November 1, 2001 (here called "Vision Statement").
The government
published it in newspapers around Ontario. Another important document
was a
detailed government policy document setting out the government's strategy
for
persons with disabilities, called "Independence and Opportunity
- Framework For
Change," publicly released on November 5, 2001 (here called "Framework
for
Change").

All these commitments
were clearly made on behalf of the Conservative
government. Where a statement refers to "principles" this
usually refers to the
11 principles for the ODA. The Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee
united
to propose these principles. The Legislature approved these principles
for the
ODA by a unanimous resolution passed on November 29, 1998.

1. ONTARIO
WILL BECOME BARRIER-FREE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The government
committed Ontario to become a barrier-free province for persons
with disabilities, where existing barriers are identified and removed,
and new
barriers are prevented. It committed that the ODA 2001's purpose is
the
achievement of a barrier-free Ontario.

The government's
"Vision Statement" commits: "We will move steadily
towards a
province in which no new barriers to persons with disabilities are
created and
existing ones are removed."

The "Framework
for Change" states: "...by working together we can achieve
our
vision of an Ontario where no new barriers are created and existing
ones are
removed." It also committed: "We envision an Ontario where
persons with
disabilities can experience the same fullness of opportunity as all
Ontarians.
We envision an Ontario where persons with disabilities can get into
and around
their community safely; attend and participate in a town council meeting;
get
to a job that nurtures their skills; and live as independently as
possible."

The "Framework
for Change" also committed: "The Ontario government's commitment
to persons with disabilities is ambitious. No other jurisdiction in
Canada has
made such a comprehensive commitment to create more accessible communities
and
to prevent and remove barriers to independence and opportunity. There
are still
many obstacles to true independence and opportunity in Ontario for
persons with
disabilities, but by working together we can achieve our vision of
an Ontario
where no new barriers are created and existing ones are removed."
It committed
as well: "We are creating an alternative future filled with anticipation,
hope
and change. More importantly, it will be filled with dignity as all
Ontarians
understand the needs of our citizens with different abilities."

The Minister stated:
"We're determined to increase the independence, the
opportunity and the quality of life for persons with disabilities,
to achieve a
province where existing barriers are removed and have a legislated
plan in
place in order to remove existing barriers." (Citizenship Minister
Cam Jackson,
Hansard, Statements on International Day for Persons with Disabilities,
December 3, 2001)

Also speaking
for the government, Conservative MPP Julia Munro stated: "No
one
can quarrel with the goal: an Ontario in which no new barriers to
persons with
disabilities are created, and where existing ones are removed. That's
where
we're headed." (Conservative MPP Julia Munro, Hansard, Second
Reading Debate,
November 20, 2001)

2. ODA 2001
WILL MAKE ONTARIO BARRIER-FREE AS SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE

(a) ODA 2001 WILL
BE KEY COMPONENT OF GOVERNMENT STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE
BARRIER-FREE ONTARIO

The government
committed that the ODA 2001 would be "a key component of the
government's framework for achieving this vision." (Citizenship
Minister Cam
Jackson's news release, November 5, 2001)

The government
committed that the ODA 2001 will bring Ontario to the goal of a
barrier-free Ontario "as soon as reasonably possible. The Minister
stated: "Our
legislation will work toward a barrier-free Ontario as soon as reasonably
possible, which were the exact words in principle number 1 -- as soon
as
reasonably possible. That's what this legislation says." (Citizenship
Minister
Cam Jackson, Hansard Second Reading Debate, November 8, 2001)

(c) ONTARIO WILL
BECOME BARRIER-FREE FAR SOONER THAN THE AMERICANS

The government
committed that Ontario can become barrier-free for persons with
disabilities, far sooner than the Americans achieve this goal. The
Minister
stated: "We can achieve a barrier-free Ontario far sooner than
the Americans
will because we already have those instruments of the Human Rights
Code and the
Charter of Rights." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard,
Second Reading
Debate, November 8, 2001)

3. ONTARIO
TO BECOME CANADA'S MOST INCLUSIVE PROVINCE

The government
committed that Ontario will become the most inclusive province
in Canada. In its "Framework for Change," the government
committed: "Our plan
to make Ontario the most inclusive province in Canada calls for strong
legislation with the support of all sectors and levels of government,
non-legislative initiatives and a multi-year plan to realize our goal."

4. NO NEW BARRIERS

(a) NO NEW BARRIERS
CREATED WITH TAX DOLLARS

The government
acknowledged that it promised that it would not create any new
barriers with tax money. The Minister stated: "We believe it
fulfils our
promise that we will not create new barriers with taxpayers' money,
something
that the disability community has said makes no sense -- using their
own tax
dollars to create environments that create barriers for them. We clearly
can do
a better job, and it should be the law that we cannot create those
barriers in
public spaces." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard Second
Reading
Debate November 8, 2001)

This government
commitment includes committing to accessibility in
government-funded infra-structure and other capital projects. The
Minister
stated: "This government, with taxpayers' dollars, has committed
about $1.8
billion in infrastructure, transit, new hospital construction and
new
university and college construction. This legislation says those projects
must
be accessible to the higher standard in this province. We believe
that's an
important element of this bill." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson,
Hansard
Second Reading Debate November 8, 2001) He also stated: "Principle
10 imposes
this requirement on the government and the municipalities, and also
mandates
accessibility as a requirement for all capital funding. It's mandated
in the
legislation." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard Second
Reading Debate,
November 8, 2001)

(b) NO OTHER NEW
BARRIERS

The government
also committed that no new barriers will be created in Ontario
against persons with disabilities. That commitment was not limited
to the
prevention of the use of tax dollars to create new barriers. The Minister
stated: "Those plans (i.e. accessibility plans under the ODA
2001) will be the
basis on which we begin to do two things and two of the most important
promises
we can make to persons with disability, and that is, we as legislators
can this
evening say that in Ontario we will not create new barriers for persons
with
disabilities any longer in our province and that we will have a managed
plan
that has acceptance and buy-in from all stakeholders in this province,
a plan
that will manage how we remove existing barriers so that there will
be a day in
Ontario when all these barriers are removed." (Citizenship Minister
Cam
Jackson, Third Reading Debate, December 13, 2001)

5. MANDATORY
REGULATIONS WILL COVER ALL SECTORS

(a) STANDARDS
WILL BE IMPOSED UNDER THE ODA 2001

The government
committed that standards will be set under the ODA 2001. The
Minister committed: "For the first time in Canadian history,
this legislation
empowers them to assist in making the regulations and the guidelines,
guidelines that didn't exist in this province for the five years of
the
Liberals, guidelines and standards that didn't exist in the five and
a half
years that you were the government, but guidelines and standards that
will
exist in Ontario thanks to the government of Mike Harris." (Citizenship
Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard Question Period November 7, 2001)

(b) GOVERNMENT
WILL PASS REGULATIONS THAT IMPOSE MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

The government
committed that the regulations would impose mandatory
requirements, in accordance with the 11 principles for the ODA. The
Minister
committed: "Mandatory provisions will be prescribed in regulations
as set out
in the 11 principles." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard
Question
Period November 7, 2001)

(c) GOVERNMENT
WILL MAKE REGULATIONS WHICH COVER ALL SECTORS INCLUDING THE
PRIVATE SECTOR

The government
committed that regulations will be made under the ODA 2001 which
will cover every sector, including the private sector. The Minister
stated:
"Finally, I want to share with the member opposite that the private
sector is
specifically named in this legislation, and the regulations we will
create
together will cover each and every sector of this province. That is
a promise
made by the Mike Harris government, and we'll keep that promise."
(Citizenship
Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard Question Period November 7, 2001)

The government
also committed that there is a time frame for the private sector
to act, and that if not achieved, regulations are to be made over
barriers in
the private sector. The Minister stated: "there is regulation-making
authority
in this legislation to ensure that existing barriers are identified
and removed
and that no new ones are created. That is not a threat; it is a part
of our
action plan to remove private sector barriers. These regulations will
be
developed and implemented within the prescribed time frame if, in
the opinion
of the government and the Accessibility Advisory Council, compliance
is not
happening fast enough in our province." (Citizenship Minister
Cam Jackson,
Hansard Second Reading Debate, November 8, 2001)

(d) GOVERNMENT
IS DEVELOPING REGULATIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT FEATURES IF NECESSARY

The government
committed that it is developing regulations that could contain
further enforcement features for the ODA 2001, if deemed necessary.
The
Minister stated: "We're also developing regulations that could
contain further
enforcement features if deemed necessary." (Citizenship Minister
Cam Jackson,
Interview in Abilities Magazine, November 2001)

6. DISABILITY
COMMUNITY IN DRIVER'S SEAT AND SETTING STANDARDS

(a) DISABILITY
COMMUNITY WILL BE IN DRIVER'S SEAT TO SET STANDARDS AND
REGULATIONS

The government
committed that under the ODA 2001, the disability community
would be placed in the driver's seat, driving change in Ontario. The
Citizenship Minister's November 5, 2001 news release committed: "The
ground-breaking legislation ... puts persons with disabilities at
the forefront
of change for the first time." In the Legislature, the Minister
stated: "For
the first time, disabled citizens will be driving the changes and
reforms we
create together in Ontario." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson,
First Reading,
November 5, 2001) As well, speaking for the government, Conservative
MPP Julia
Munro stated: "The bill gives persons with disabilities an unparalleled
opportunity to shape and mould change. For the first time in Ontario's
history,
we're putting the disability community into the framework of the legislation
and asking them to be our partner in driving it." (Conservative
MPP Julia
Munro, Hansard Second Reading Debate, November 20, 2001)

(b) DISABILITY
COMMUNITY WILL DEVELOP THE REGULATIONS UNDER THE ODA 2001

The government
committed that the regulations to be enacted under the ODA 2001
will be developed by the disability community. The Minister stated:
"These
regulations will be developed by the disabilities community."
(Citizenship
Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard, Question Period November 27, 2001)
He also
stated: "We have indicated very clearly that this bill creates
some
unprecedented opportunities in Ontario. Particularly, nowhere in North
America
can we find any legislation which specifically empowers the disabilities
community to set regulations. ... We will welcome any friendly amendments
that
help clarify that point if it gives additional comfort and satisfaction
to
those people. But the fundamental principle is that this legislation
contains
the opportunity for the disabilities community to make those decisions."
(Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard Second Reading Debate,
November 20,
2001)

(c) DISABILITY
COMMUNITY GIVEN PIVOTAL ROLE IN SETTING STANDARDS

This includes
a government commitment that the disability community will create
the standards, and will be pivotal in creating the standards for preventing
and
removing barriers in Ontario. The Minister stated: "The first
thing that has to
happen is those standards have to be created. They will be created
by the
disabilities community of this province because this government's
made an
unprecedented commitment to them that they will help us make those
regulations." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard Question
Period
November 7, 2001) The Minister also stated: "We need the flexibility
to set
those standards. For the first time, we need to entrench in law that
the
disability community will be pivotal in creating those new standards
and
assisting in developing the new regulations." (Citizenship Minister
Cam
Jackson, Hansard Second Reading Debate, November 8, 2001)

(d) DISABILITY
COMMUNITY TO HELP SET TIME FRAME FOR IMPLEMENTING ACCESSIBILITY
PLANS

This also includes
a government commitment that the disability community will
help set such things as the time frames for accessibility plans to
be
implemented. the Minister stated: "Persons with disabilities
understand the
barriers that they are struggling with and confront on a daily basis.
Their
knowledge and their experience is the single most important contribution
to our
understanding of these necessary reforms. They become the province
of Ontario's
disability lens and they become the agents for change, helping to
set the
guidelines, the mandatory terms of reference and time frames for completion
of
accessibility plans to be implemented in a broad spectrum across our
province."
(Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard, Debate on Time Allocation
Motion,
November 21, 2001)

(e) DISABILITY
COMMUNITY WILL DECIDE WHEN CITIES WILL BECOME ACCESSIBLE

The government
also committed that the disability community will decide when
our cities will become accessible. The Minister stated: "The
disabilities
community will tell us when our cities will become fully accessible,
because
they will finally have the tools and the authority to determine the
time frame
..." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard, Second Reading
Debate,
November 8, 2001)

7. NEW PROVINCIAL
ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COUNCIL'S ROLE

(a) THE ONTARIO
ADVISORY COUNCIL WILL INCLUDE VOICES TO ENSURE ONTARIO
GOVERNMENT LISTENS AND ACTS

The government
committed that the new Ontario Accessibility Advisory Council
will be composed of voices from the disability community to ensure
that the
government listens, understands and acts in accordance with the regulations.
The Minister committed: "There are many voices, many needs and
many unique
challenges facing a broad range of citizens of all ages who are challenged
by
their disabilities. The council will be composed of their voices to
ensure that
this province listens, understands and acts in accordance with the
regulations
we would create together."

(b) ONTARIO ADVISORY
COUNCIL WILL DECIDE WHEN IT IS REASONABLE FOR ONTARIO TO
BECOME BARRIER-FREE

The government
committed that the Ontario Accessibility Advisory Council will
decide the point in time when it will be reasonably possible for Ontario
to
become a barrier-free province. The Minister stated: "And do
you know who is
going to decide whether it's reasonable? The disabilities community,
who sit on
the access advisory council of Ontario working on the regulations
and meeting
with the private sector to say, 'You tell us how you're going to become
compliant with this legislation'." (Citizenship Minister Cam
Jackson, Hansard
Second Reading Debate, November 8, 2001)

(c) ONTARIO ADVISORY
COUNCIL WILL DRIVE REFORMS INCLUDING REGULATIONS

The government
committed that the Ontario Advisory Council will drive the
reforms in Ontario, including working on regulations and ultimately
examining
and developing mandatory plans for the private sector. The Minister
stated:
"This is going to be a very dynamic, powerful organization of
disabled persons,
the majority of whom will be disabled persons, on the Accessibility
Advisory
Council of Ontario. They will be driving the reforms and working on
the
regulations, supervising and examining the accessibility plans for
all of the
broad public sector in the first phase of this legislation and ultimately
examining and developing the mandatory plans for the private sector
in the
future when we have those regulations ready." (Citizenship Minister
Cam
Jackson, Hansard, Third Reading Debate, December 13, 2001)

(d) ONTARIO ADVISORY
COUNCIL WILL DRIVE THE WORK ON DEVELOPING ENFORCEMENT
MECHANISMS UNDER THE ODA 2001
The government committed that the Ontario Accessibility Advisory Council
will
drive the work on developing enforcement mechanisms under the ODA
2001
necessary to ensure compliance. The Minister stated: "We're creating
a council
with disabled persons who will drive the work on the enforcement mechanisms
whether it's the regulations, setting the guidelines, monitoring compliance,
reporting publicly on who's compliant and who's not, and they will
develop with
us the necessary enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance."
(Citizenship
Minister Cam Jackson, Interview on CBC Radio "Metro Morning"
Program, November
6, 2001)

(e) DISABILITY
COMMUNITY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ONTARIO ADVISORY COUNCIL AND
MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES

The government
committed that the Ontario Advisory Council and local municipal
Advisory Committees will be accessible to the disability community,
and that
the government will be open to their advice. The Minister stated:
"The
disability community would have access to the Accessibility Advisory
Council
and local accessibility advisory committees. We will be harnessing
their good
ideas and their legitimate needs, and channelling those with future
legislation
or regulations." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Interview
in Abilities
Magazine, November 2001)

(f) ODA CONTAINS
MECHANISM TO TELL GOVERNMENT WHEN AND HOW TO REMOVE BARRIERS

The government
committed that the ODA 2001 contains a mechanism for persons
with disabilities to tell the government what barriers they face,
and when and
how they should be removed. The minister stated: "We don't have
to try to
negotiate through our communities on a daily basis the way they do.
That's why,
when I presented this to cabinet, I insisted the legislation provide
a
mechanism for them to tell us how the barriers should be removed,
when the
barriers should be removed and what the barriers really are."
(Citizenship
Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard, Second Reading Debate, November 8,
2001)

8. SPECIFIC
ACTIONS BY ONTARIO GOVERNMENT

(a) GOVERNMENT
WILL FORCE COMPLIANCE IN ALL SECTORS BASED ON MANDATORY
REQUIREMENTS, ACCESSIBILITY PLANS AND TIME FRAMES

The government
committed to force compliance with the ODA 2001, based on the
guidelines and accessibility plans that will be made public for every
sector,
and based on time frames. The Minister stated: "We are going
to force
compliance based on the guidelines and the accessibility plans that
will be
made public for each and every sector in Ontario." (Citizenship
Minister Cam
Jackson interview on CBC Radio's "Metro Morning" programme
November 6, 2001)
The Minister also stated: "It (i.e. the ODA 2001) gives municipalities,
universities, schools, hospitals and the private sector time to identify
these
barriers and to plan to remove them within the reasonable time frames
that will
be set out in regulations and which will be enforced by the government,
but
those time frames will involve the disabilities community sitting
down with
each of their institutions and their communities." (Citizenship
Minister Cam
Jackson, Hansard Second Reading Debate November 8, 2001)

The government
also committed that the ODA 2001 includes mandatory
requirements, and that these will be monitored and enforced. The minister
stated: "Well, it's just not going to happen that way and frankly,
we have
demonstrated inside the legislation that there are mandatory requirements
and
that they will be monitored and that they will be enforced."
(Citizenship
Minister Cam Jackson, Interview on CBC Radio "Metro Morning"
Program, November
6, 2001)

The Minister also
stated: "The government has responded, first and foremost, by
saying that before we ask anyone in this province to comply with the
mandatory
guidelines, the first mandatory guidelines would fall upon the shoulders
of the
government of Ontario, each and every ministry, each and every agency
of the
government of Ontario; and secondly, that those who rely on the support
of
taxpayers in this province, their agencies and their organizations,
whether
they are hospitals, community colleges, universities, whether they
are
municipal institutions, they too must be compliant with these new
higher
standards of compliance that will be required in Ontario." (Citizenship
Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard, Third Reading Debate, December 13,
2001)

(b) TRANSIT PROVIDERS
WILL BE REQUIRED TO FILE AND COMPLY WITH THEIR
ACCESSIBILITY PLANS

The government
committed that transit providers will be required not only to
make accessibility plans, but also to comply with them. The Minister
stated:
"Private sector transit services and all transit systems in this
province will
mandatorily have to file and comply with their accessibility plans."
(Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard Second Reading Debate,
November 19,
2001)

(c) GOVERNMENT
WILL FILL LEADERSHIP ROLE TO SET HIGH STANDARD

The government
committed to take on a leadership role, and to set a high
standard. The government's "Framework for Change" committed:
"The provincial
government has a responsibility to set a high standard and to demonstrate
leadership." It also committed: "government, at the same
time, needs to be a
leader in its own house by ensuring its own policies and practices
are designed
to achieve accessibility in the Ontario Public Service (OPS). And
it has a
responsibility to lead by defining the expectations and standards
it expects of
its partners. The government's partners include municipalities, educational
institutions, hospitals, providers of public transportation, businesses
and
employers - and the people of Ontario. The government of Ontario expects
its
partners to improve accessibility over time, and is committed to working
with
them and sharing the responsibility for developing shared solutions."
The Minister stated in his November 5, 2001 news release: "Ontario
wants to
play a leadership role in ensuring that persons with disabilities
achieve full
participation in society."

(d) NEW ACCESSIBILITY
DIRECTORATE WILL TAKE SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO PROMOTE
ACCESSIBILITY INCLUDING LAUNCHING NEW INCENTIVE PROGRAM

The government
committed that the New Accessibility Directorate will undertake
specific actions to promote accessibility. The "Framework for
Change" committed
regarding this new office: "The directorate would: Provide specialized
knowledge and research. Assist municipalities, the OPS, school boards,
public
transportation providers, hospitals, colleges, universities with accessibility
planning. Develop partnering relationships with standard-setting organizations,
the disability community and the private sector to continually remove
barriers.
Consult with the disability community on an ongoing basis to implement
change.
Provide information and advice to the government on disability-related
issues.
Help develop sectoral standards and codes. The directorate would launch
a
public education program to change attitude and awareness. The campaign
would
deliver the message that opening doors is everybody's business."

The government
also committed that under the new Accessibility Directorate, it
will create and administer an incentive program to encourage the participation
of all sectors in identifying and removing barriers and setting standards.
The
"Framework for Change" committed to the following initial
government action:
"Through the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, the government
would, as a
necessary first step, create and administer incentive programs to
encourage the
participation of all sectors in identifying and removing barriers.
One of the
first goals would be to encourage businesses to remove physical barriers,
such
as obvious barriers at entranceways, to make businesses physically
accessible
to persons with disabilities. Another would be to launch a substantial
public
education program to overcome attitudinal barriers."

(e) GOVERNMENT
WILL TARGET SPECIFIC PRIVATE SECTOR PARTIES FOR COMPLIANCE

The government
committed that it will select specific private sector companies
for compliance. The minister stated: "Private companies -- we
are identifying
sector by sector, which of the private sector company -- er, corporations
--
that we will be targeting in terms of their compliance." (Citizenship
Minister
Cam Jackson, Interview on CBC Radio "Metro Morning" program,
November 6, 2001)

(f) GOVERNMENT
WILL POST ITS "VISION STATEMENT" WIDELY

The government
committed that its "Vision Statement" on a barrier-free
Ontario
for persons with disabilities will be widely posted. Conservative
MPP Tina
Molinari stated: "The vision is going to be widely displayed.
It will be framed
and you will find it in government buildings, schools, hospitals,
municipal
buildings, hotels and thousands of other places." (Conservative
MPP Tina
Molinari, Hansard, Second Reading Debate, November 20, 2001)

(g) GOVERNMENT
HAS KEY PLAYERS READY TO ACT

The government
committed in late fall 2001 that it already had key players
prepared to swing into action to implement change. The framework for
Change
committed that the government has "... a host of supportive stakeholders
in
municipal government, the disability community, the broader public
sector and
private sectors ready and willing to make it (i.e. a barrier-free
Ontario)
happen." It also stated: "The private sector wants to do
the right thing but
says it needs more access to information and advice on how to do it."

(h) GOVERNMENT
WILL NOT REST UNTIL IT ACHIEVES ITS VISION

The government
committed that it will not rest until it achieves its vision.
Conservative MPP Carl DeFaria stated: "It takes time to develop
expertise,
develop infrastructure and build a capacity for change, but we will
not rest
until we have fulfilled our vision." (Conservative MPP Carl DeFaria,
Hansard,
Second Reading Debate, November 8, 2001) Similarly, Conservative MPP
Tina
Molinari stated: "We have embarked on a journey whose destination
is a society
where old barriers are removed and no new barriers will ever be created.
We
will not rest until we arrive at this destination. Our government
has made a
special commitment to persons with disabilities, a commitment that
builds and
has gone forward." (Conservative MPP Tina Molinari, Hansard,
Second Reading
Debate, November 20, 2001)

9. ONTARIO
GOVERNMENT'S SPECIFIC RESULTS

(a) ONTARIO GOVERNMENT
WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITHIN FIVE YEARS

The government
committed that the Ontario government itself should be able to
be in full compliance within five years. The Minister stated: "The
provincial
government should be able to be compliant in under four or five years."
(Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Interview on CBC Radio "Metro
Morning"
Program, November 6, 2001)

(b) SPECIFIC ACCESSIBILITY
RESULTS

The government
has committed to itself achieve specific accessibility results.

Regarding government
buildings the "Framework for Change" committed: "New
construction would be accessible."

Regarding the
services provided by the Ontario Public Service (OPS), the
"Framework for Change" committed:

"The requirements
being proposed for the OPS would set important new standards
for accessibility in this province and for accessible service delivery.
The
proposed legislation would require the government to meet accessibility
requirements in key areas of its activities. The legislation would
have an
impact on services to the public; workplace policies and practices;
buildings;
publications; government Internet sites; purchasing procedures; and
capital
programs. ... government would be required by law to say how it plans
to remove
barriers to accessibility and to demonstrate that it has taken action."

The "Framework
for Change" also commits: "The government would be required
to
develop barrier-free design guidelines for buildings and premises,
in
consultation with persons with disabilities and others. It would be
required to
ensure that any buildings or premises it purchases, constructs or
renovates
significantly, after the Bill comes into force, would comply with
those
guidelines. Simply put, the business of Ontario ministries would be
made more
accessible to employees and customers with disabilities."

The "Framework
for Change" further commits: "Physical barriers would be
identified and removed over a prescribed period of time."

The "Framework
for Change" as well committed to these results regarding the
Ontario government and its services: "Greater public accountability.
Services
would be reviewed and improved. New guidelines for accessibility of
government
buildings would be developed in conjunction with persons with disabilities
and
others. Access to public buildings would be considerably improved;
goods and
services would be more accessible; access to government information
would be
greatly enhanced; public awareness of disability issues would be heightened
significantly. Improved access to publications, and to information
on
government Internet sites. New construction would be accessible."

The "Framework
for Change" also committed: "The province buys billions
of
dollars worth of goods and services every year. It would be required
by law to
make accessibility a consideration in such purchases. This would mean
that
thousands of suppliers throughout Ontario would have to become aware
of and
consider the accessibility of the goods and services they provide
if they wish
to sell to the Ontario government."

10. MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS' SPECIFIC RESULTS

The government
committed to specific accessibility results at the municipal
level.

Regarding municipalities
the "Framework for Change" committed: "Mandating
annual plans and committees will result in the identification and
planned
removal of barriers over time. More than 160 municipalities would
plan for
accessibility as a regular part of doing business." (Note: This
commitment was
made when the ODA 2001 did not apply municipal barrier-free planning
requirements on municipalities with a population under 10,000. Subsequently,
Bill 125 was amended to extend barrier-free planning requirements
to all
municipalities.)

The "Framework
for Change" also committed: "Municipalities would be required
to
consider the needs of persons with disabilities when purchasing goods
or
services through the procurement process." It also committed:
"Municipalities
would also have to consider accessibility when approving a plan of
a
subdivision and when engaging in planning. No new subdivisions or
construction
would occur without consideration of accessibility features. Curb
cuts and
audible traffic signals and inclusive design would become more common
features
in communities across Ontario."

The "Framework
for Change" committed that the following results would follow:
"Significant improvements in community accessibility - as demonstrated
by those
municipalities that have already benefitted from their accessibility
advisory
committees and planning processes. Increased physical accessibility;
higher
visibility of disability issues throughout the community; greater
public
awareness of disability issues; more buildings and other sites (such
as parks
and recreational facilities) made accessible. Greater public accountability.
An
ongoing and participatory role in decision-making for persons with
disabilities. Greater consultation between the Association of Municipalities
of
Ontario and the Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario."

The government
committed that municipalities will be required to take
accessibility into account when issuing licenses, among other things.
The
Minister stated: "Municipalities would have to take accessibility
into
consideration when approving, for example, subdivision plans and upon
issuing
licences." (Citizenship Minister Cam Jackson, Hansard Second
Reading Debate,
November 8, 2001)

The government
committed that all Ontario municipalities covered by the ODA
2001 will be required to meet or exceed the standards now achieved
in Windsor
and Thunder Bay. The Minister committed: "I have seen, first-hand,
success
stories around the province and would like to acknowledge the leadership
of
communities like Windsor, under Mayor Mike Hurst, and Thunder Bay,
under Mayor
Ken Boshcoff. All Ontario municipalities affected by this bill will
be held to
the same high standard or even higher." (Citizenship Minister
Cam Jackson,
Hansard, First Reading, November 5, 2001)

11. BROADER
PUBLIC SECTOR SPECIFIC RESULTS

The government
committed to specific accessibility results in the broader
public sector e.g. schools, hospitals, public transit, colleges and
universities.

The "Framework
for Change" committed: "Some 159 hospitals, 25 colleges,
17
universities, and 78 school boards would be developing and implementing
plans
which would significantly enhance disabled persons' access to education,
training and services."

The "Framework
for Change" committed to these results in the broader public
sector: "Increased access to schools, colleges, universities
and hospitals.
Better services for persons with disabilities at schools, colleges,
universities and hospitals. As a result of increased accessibility
in public
transportation, persons with disabilities would find it easier to
move around
their communities safely, which would significantly enhance their
ability to
participate fully in community life. Greater public accountability.
Heightened
public awareness."

12. PRIVATE
SECTOR SPECIFIC RESULTS

The government
committed to achieve specific accessibility results in the
private sector.

The "Framework
for Change" committed to these results: "Development of
flexible, industry-appropriate standards. Private sector commitment,
and
partnerships between industry and persons with disabilities. Clear
sectoral
standards for accessibility. Standards could eventually become law.
Every
sector of the community and the economy would be engaged in improving
accessibility to meet or exceed its own sector standards. Opportunities
for
persons with disabilities significantly improve throughout the province
as
sectors move towards greater accessibility. The accessibility bar
would move
higher as each sector learns and benefits from each other."

In the "Framework
for Change," the government committed to these results in the
private sector as a result of the government's promised new incentive
program,
in which the Accessibility Directorate will be involved: "Improved
access to
business facilities for those people in Ontario who use motorized
scooters,
wheelchairs, walkers and other assistive devices. Independence of
persons with
disabilities is enhanced. Increased retail job opportunities for persons
with
disabilities. Considerable potential for retail businesses to attract
customers
with disabilities."

The government
also committed that the ODA 2001 would cause the private sector
to know how to get the business of all Ontarians. Conservative MPP
Carl DeFaria
stated: "With this bill, the private sector will know what to
do to get the
business of every Ontarian." (Conservative MPP Carl DeFaria,
Hansard, Second
Reading Debate, November 8, 2001)

13. MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The government
committed that the ODA 2001 will make a meaningful difference in
the lives of Ontarians with disabilities. The Minister stated: "Finally,
principle 11: the proposed legislation does make meaningful improvements
to the
lives of all Ontarians living with disabilities." (Citizenship
Minister Cam
Jackson, Hansard, Second Reading Debate, November 8, 2001)